rachet

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A misspelling or variant of ratchet: a toothed wheel and catch that lets something turn one way only.

   Grammar: Standard spelling is ratchet; rachet appears in casual or mistaken writing.

   Patterns

   • a rachet and pawl

   The rachet clicked as he tightened the bolt.

   A small rachet inside the jack holds the weight.

   She bought a rachet set for the garage.

2. 2verbtransitive or intransitivefigurative

   To move or raise something step by step, often upward, as with a ratchet.

   Grammar: Often followed by up or down; the preferred spelling is ratchet.

   Patterns

   • rachet something up
   • rachet down

   Prices rachet up a little each month.

   The company tried to rachet up the pressure.

Word forms

Common combinations

rachet wrench

A rachet wrench saves time on long bolts.

rachet strap

He tied the load with a rachet strap.

rachet up

Tensions rachet up before the vote.

rachet set

I keep a rachet set in the car.

Synonyms and how they differ

ratchet

Ratchet is the correct, standard spelling used in dictionaries and technical writing.

pawl

A pawl is only the catch that engages the teeth, not the entire mechanism.

escalate

Escalate is the plain verb for raising levels, without the sense of steps that cannot easily reverse.

Word family

ratchet noun

the standard spelling of the mechanism

ratchet verb

to increase in steps

ratcheting noun

a gradual, one-way increase

ratchet effect noun

a change that is hard to undo once it happens

Commonly confused: rachet or ratchet?

Practice

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